Tag: Owen Freeman

Three stars in Iowa basketball blowout over New Orleans

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s 104-57 blowout over New Orleans.

Iowa basketball (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten) bounced back from Thursday’s loss against No. 3 Iowa State with a thorough 104-57 thrashing vs. New Orleans (2-7, 0-1 Southland Conference) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday evening.

As expected, the game was never close as the Hawkeyes shot a season-high 42-for-67 (62.7%) from the floor, 14-for-29 (48.3%) from 3-point range, and 6-of-9 (66.6%) from the free throw line. Iowa also outscored the Privateers 46-38 from within the paint and 38-6 on fastbreak points.

Defensively, Iowa forced 15 total turnovers with 11 blocks and nine steals while holding New Orleans to 25-of-67 (37.3%) shooting from the floor and 4-of-24 (16.7%) from deep.

Sunday’s triumph is the largest margin of victory for the Hawkeyes since their 109-61 win over Western Michigan in 2021.

As Iowa got back in their offensive groove, here are three Hawkeyes that stood out during the landslide victory.

Owen Freeman

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Freeman led the team offensively by tying a career-high in points with 22 on a season-best 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) shooting and 2-for-3 (66.6%) from the charity stripe. The sophomore forward also recorded four rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal in his 19 minutes of playing time.

Sunday was his second 20-point game of the season and the fourth of his career, which should not surprise anybody as Freeman has blossomed into a bonafide scoring threat down low for the Hawkeyes over his 43-game career.

Brock Harding

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Harding had a solid game against New Orleans by finishing with 13 points on 5-of-6 (83.3%) shooting from the floor and 3-for-3 from deep. The Moline, Ill, product also tallied six assists, one block, and one steal in 20 minutes.

Harding made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to open the game and scored or assisted on seven of Iowa’s first eight field goals. The performance from the sophomore guard is also his seventh game with at least six assists.

Payton Sandfort

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Sandfort had another fabulous game Sunday evening by posting 15 points on 5-of-8 (62.5%) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from beyond the arc. The senior forward added five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block during his 20 minutes of play.

Sandfort’s hot night from deep extends his streak of three or more 3-pointers made to four straight games. It is also the sixth time he has accomplished such a feat this season and the 29th time in his career.

While the offensive production is expected from Sandfort, the notable feats accompanying his scoring touch are still worthy of praise, no matter the opponent’s strength.

The Hawkeyes return to action on Dec. 21, when they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a neutral site game from the Sanford Pentagon vs. Utah (7-2).

The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT and will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN). As always, the game will also air on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Three stars from Iowa basketball loss vs. Iowa State

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s Cy-Hawk Series loss.

Iowa basketball (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) suffered a crushing 89-80 loss from Carver-Hawkeye Arena Thursday night vs. No. 3-ranked Iowa State (8-1, 0-0 Big 12) in the 2024 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

While the Hawkeyes roared out to a 44-37 halftime lead on 58.6% from the field, a dominant Iowa State surge coupled with a troublesome Iowa second-half shooting performance allowed the Cyclones to escape from a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena victorious.

In addition to the poor second-half shooting by the Hawkeyes, being out-rebounded 29-18 by the Cyclones in the final 20 minutes certainly did not help their cause.

As a team, Iowa shot 28-for-63 (44.4%) from the floor, 11-for-28 from three-point territory, and 13-for-15 (86.7%) from the free-throw line. On the defensive side, Iowa collected 34 rebounds (26 defensive) in addition to five steals and four blocks for a combined nine forced turnovers.

While the cold second-half performance doomed the Hawkeyes, here are Iowa’s three stars from Thursday’s game that were difference-makers on the court.

Owen Freeman

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Freeman led the team in points with 16 on 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the field, including a rare 1-for-1 (100%) three-point shooting night. The sophomore forward also converted on 5-of-7 (71.4%) attempts from the charity stripe while recording five rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 26 minutes.

While Freeman was expected to have a bigger role against the Cyclones, his stat line was still more than respectable, especially against a very skilled Iowa State lineup.

Brock Harding

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Harding had another decent showing Thursday night by finishing with 10 points on 4-for-10 (40%) from the field to go along with eight assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 31 minutes.

Although Harding’s stat line does not necessarily pop off the box score, his ability to effectively facilitate the ball throughout the night proved to be well-appreciated by the Hawkeyes, especially in the first half.

Ladji Dembele

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Despite only playing 14 minutes against Iowa State, Dembele had the best shooting night of his Hawkeyes career and tied his season-high in points.

The sophomore forward finished with 11 points off 4-of-4 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. In addition to his perfect shooting night, he also recorded four rebounds and one steal to round out his night.

Dembele’s ability to inject offense off the bench is one that the Hawkeyes will certainly look to utilize moving forward as the schedule becomes more rigorous later in the season.

Iowa will remain home for their next game on Sunday, Dec. 15, vs. New Orleans (2-6, 0-1 Southland Conference) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 1 p.m. CT.

The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network as well as through the radio on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Owen Freeman recalls when Cy-Hawk rivalry became real

Iowa basketball’s Owen Freeman reveals the moment he realized the intensity of the in-state rivalry with Iowa State.

As Iowa (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) prepares for Thursday’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series clash vs. No. 3 Iowa State (7-1, 0-0 Big 12), Hawkeyes forward Owen Freeman shared the moment when the in-state rivalry became real.

As a sophomore hailing from Moline, Ill., Freeman admitted he did not truly understand the intensity between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones until joining Iowa last season.

When asked when he realized the rivalry’s intensity, he stated it was before the 2023 matchup when an Iowa State fan refused to enter a hotel elevator due to Freeman being an occupant.

“Kinda before the game last year,” Freeman said. “I remember we’re in the hotel and I’m the only one on the elevator. Some guy wearing a Cyclone shirt refuses to get on the elevator because I’m on there.”

While the instance is somewhat awkward between the fan and Freeman, the Hawkeyes forward stated that the little nuances of the rivalry are what truly made him understand the hatred between the two programs.

As for Thursday’s matchup against the Cyclones, Freeman will need to be a significant factor on both sides of the court in order for the Hawkeyes to spring the upset.

Freeman is currently averaging team-highs in points (16.8), rebounds (7.0) and blocks (1.6) per game. Freeman is shooting 64.4% from the field during the 2024-25 season.

The 2024 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series will begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT from Carver-Hawkeye Arena and will be broadcast on FS1. As always, the game will also be available on the radio on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Three stars from Iowa basketball landslide win over USC Upstate

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s lopsided win over USC Upstate.

Iowa men’s basketball responded to their ugly loss to Utah State with an emphatic 110-77 victory over USC Upstate (2-7) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday night, improving to 6-1 heading into conference play.

The Hawkeyes‘ offense was relentless from the opening tip, with the trio of Owen Freeman, Josh Dix, and Brock Harding leading the charge. The trio would finish the game with a combined 51 points on 22-for-32 (68.75%) from the field, including 5-for-12 (41.67%) from 3-point territory.

As a team, Iowa shot 43-for-71 (60.6%) from the field, 12-for-26 from beyond the arc and 12-for-15 (80.0%) from the charity stripe. Iowa established clear control regarding point production, outscoring the Spartans, 50-34.

Defensively, Iowa tied USC Upstate in rebounds with 34 each but forced 19 turnovers, which were eventually converted into 31 points. The Hawkeyes also finished with 12 steals and five blocks.

With Iowa looking impressive heading into Big Ten play, here are the three stars from Tuesday night’s blowout victory:

Brock Harding

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Harding continued his dominant play from last Friday into Tuesday night’s game vs. USC Upstate by registering a double-double through a career-high and team-leading 20 points on 9-of-13 (69.23%) shooting from the field and 2-of-5 (40.0%) from deep.

On top of his scoring, he also added 10 assists, four steals, three rebounds, and one steal to round out an impressive night.

Harding’s emergence as a reliable offensive weapon is a major development as Iowa enters the bludgeoning nature that is Big Ten play.

Owen Freeman

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Like almost every game this season, Freeman has been at the forefront of the Hawkeyes’ offensive attack and did so again Tuesday night by finishing with 17 points on 8-for-12 (75.0%) shooting from the field and 1-for-3 (33.3%) from deep in just 18:17 of floor time.

Freeman also added six rebounds and two blocks throughout the night as well.

With Freeman fully warmed up through the opening seven games, he should be a force to reckon with throughout Big Ten play and beyond.

Riley Mulvey

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Mulvey was a key contributor off the bench Tuesday night as he added 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting. He also added three rebounds and one block to his total as well.

The Hawkeyes’ next game follows the Thanksgiving break, as the team will play their Big Ten opener on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. CT against Northwestern (5-1) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The game will be broadcast through Peacock (subscription required) and on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Pair of Hawkeyes stood out despite Iowa basketball loss vs Utah State

A pair of Hawkeyes were bright spots despite Iowa basketball’s first loss of the season, a 77-69 setback against Utah State in KC.

Iowa men’s basketball (5-1) suffered its first loss of the season Friday night by a 77-69 score against Utah State (5-0) in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The Hawkeyes played their sloppiest offensive game this season as the team had 16 total turnovers and shot 28-for-64 (43.75%) from the field, including a dreadful 5-for-26 (19.23%) from 3-point distance.

Iowa held its own defensively by forcing 18 turnovers, including 13 steals and six blocks while limiting Utah State to 7-for-21 from deep.

Despite the disappointing loss against an equally scrappy Utah State bunch, here are three Hawkeyes who performed admirably in Friday night’s game.

Brock Harding

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Despite the loss, Friday night’s game against Utah State was arguably the best Harding has played all season.

The sophomore guard finished with 19 points, five assists, four steals, and one rebound in 33:45 of game action. Harding shot 8-for-15 (53.3%) from the field, including a team-leading 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Harding’s breakout performance is a welcome sight for Iowa as the guard had primarily been a ball facilitator and a factor on the defensive end through the season’s first five games. Iowa will hope Harding’s showing is the start of a trend as opposed to a one-off burst of offense.

Owen Freeman

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Along with Harding, Freeman was one of the few Hawkeyes that thrived offensively Friday night as he finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists through 33:59 of playing time.

Freeman shot an efficient 9-for-12 (75%) from the field, which fueled the Hawkeyes’ offense, especially in the paint.

With Freeman expected to have solid performances in almost every game, it is still appreciated, especially when the Hawkeyes struggle to convert on their shots.

Iowa will look to rebound on Tuesday, Nov. 26 versus USC Upstate from inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena with tip set for 7 p.m. CT and the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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Three stars in Iowa basketball’s romp over Rider

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s romp over Rider.

Following a lopsided 83-58 victory versus Rider (3-2) on Tuesday night from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa men’s basketball improved its overall record to 5-0 on the campaign.

The Hawkeyes established a dominant defensive presence and efficient scoring from the opening tip, which led to a comfortable 40-26 halftime lead. Iowa’s tenacious defense forced 10 turnovers by the Broncs, leading to 13 points off those takeaways in the opening half.

The second half continued Iowa’s smothering control of the game as the Hawkeyes would add 43 more points off 16-of-33 shooting from the field, including 5-for-9 from 3-point territory. The Hawkeyes would again force 10 Broncs turnovers, leading to seven more points off takeaways.

As a team, the Hawkeyes shot 30-of-64 (46.9%) from the field, including 8-of-22 (36.4%) from beyond the arc. Iowa also converted on 15-of-21 (71.4%) free throw attempts.

With another dominant performance, below are the three stars whose efforts guided the Hawkeyes to victory.

Payton Sandfort

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Senior forward Payton Sandfort emerged in the second half to help widen the already comfortable lead for the Hawkeyes by finishing the night with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 2-of-7 from deep. He also had six rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in the contest.

While this level of production from Sandfort is somewhat expected, considering the senior is regarded as one of the primary offensive drivers of the team, it is still very well appreciated no matter the opponent.

Owen Freeman

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Owen Freeman once again had an impressive showing on Tuesday night as he made 7-of-11 field goals en route to 19 points. The sophomore forward also had five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to add to his stat line. 

Freeman’s ability to dominate in the paint is clearly paying dividends for the Hawkeyes as 44 of Iowa’s 83 total points were generated from that area.

With conference play looming, Freeman’s recent play is exactly what head coach Fran McCaffery is looking for from the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Drew Thelwell

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Coming off a clutch late-game performance against Washington State, Thelwell continued his impactful play off the bench on Tuesday night by recording seven assists and five steals in his 27 minutes of game time.

His stellar play defensively and as a facilitator for the offense allowed the Hawkeyes to establish their control of the game from start to finish.

Even though Thelwell scored only two points off 1-of-3 shooting from the field, his versatility in a sixth-man role has proven vital to the Hawkeyes’ recent success.

Iowa returns to action on Nov. 22, when the team travels to Kansas City, Mo., for the NABC Hall of Fame Classic game against Utah State (4-0).

The game will begin at 7 p.m. CT from the T-Mobile Center. It will be televised on the Big Ten Network and on the Hawkeye Radio Network.\

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Three stars of Iowa men’s basketball’s gritty 76-66 win vs. Washington State

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s Friday night win over Wazzu.

The Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team (4-0) won their first true challenge of the season on Friday vs. Washington State (3-1) when they defeated the Cougars 76-66 from Moline, Ill., as part of the John Deere Quad Cities Hoops Showdown at Vibrant Arena.

While the game ended with a 10-point differential, most of the game was highly contested as both sides displayed spirited efforts on the court.

Both Iowa and Washington State had a relatively poor shooting night as the Hawkeyes shot 25-for-60 (41.7%) from the field and 8-for-25 from deep, which was only slightly higher than the Cougars’ 26-for-66 (39.4%) and 5-for-28 3-point mark.

For Iowa, the Hawkeyes’ tenacious defense truly willed the team to victory vs. Washington State by forcing a total of ten steals and five blocks, many of which came during critical junctures of the game.

Considering the total team effort from Iowa, below are the three stars that allowed the Hawkeyes to improve to 4-0 on the campaign.

Owen Freeman

Friday’s game was not only a homecoming for the Moline, Ill., native, but also a birthday celebration as the sophomore celebrated his 20th birthday by leading the team with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field while collecting 11 rebounds. Freeman’s double-double is also the sixth of his career at Iowa.

Freeman, who won an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) basketball title alongside teammate Brock Harding in 2023, was able to be a spark plug for the Hawkeyes in his 29 minutes for what was an otherwise difficult shooting night for the team.

Drew Thelwell

While not a large part of the scoresheet with only seven points on 2-of-4 shooting in 19 minutes, Thewell’s two clutch 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter jumpstarted a 16-7 Hawkeyes run in the final 3:55.

Thelwell also contributed to the Hawkeyes’ defensive effort by adding three steals and one block to the team’s total.

The performance of the graduate transfer from Morehead State is exactly what head coach Fran McCaffery will need moving forward from his bench, especially with conference play starting later this month.

Iowa Fans

Considering Friday’s game was the first time Iowa has played in Moline since 1998, the large contingent of Hawkeye fans that packed Vibrant Arena truly spurred the team to victory, especially late in the game.

With Moline roughly 61 miles from Iowa City, Iowa fans flocking to watch the Hawkeyes made the game almost feel like a second home court.

As the Western Illinois area has proved to be a valuable recruiting ground for Iowa recently, the turnout of 8,488 also aids the Hawkeyes’ efforts on the recruiting trail.

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa’s next game will be Nov. 19, when the Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff vs. the Rider Broncs (3-1).

The game will be broadcast on BTN+ (paid subscription required) and will also be available on radio through the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Owen Freeman snags ninth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award

For the ninth time this season, Iowa forward Owen Freeman has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

For the second week in a row and for the ninth time this season, Iowa forward Owen Freeman has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Freeman averaged 12.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocked shots and 3.0 assists per game as the Hawkeyes split a pair of games at Maryland and versus No. 21 Wisconsin.

In Iowa’s 78-66 loss at Maryland, Freeman scored five points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots. Then, the 6-foot-10, 230 pound freshman big was a key figure in the Hawkeyes’ 88-86 overtime win over Wisconsin.

Freeman was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free throw line en route to 20 points. The Moline, Ill., native registered his fifth double-double of the season, pulling down 12 rebounds.

Freeman also dished out six assists, blocked four shots and came away with two steals.

Freeman is just the third major conference freshman since 2000 with 20 or more points, 10-plus rebounds, five-plus assists and four or more blocks. Per Iowa’s associate director of strategic communications James Allan, Freeman’s 20 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four blocks versus the Badgers is the only performance of its kind nationally this season. It’s one of eight such games since the 2010-11 season.

“He’s a beast,” Iowa senior guard Tony Perkins said of Freeman. “I told him every time he’d get fouled, get a rebound or get a bucket, ‘You are a beast. Act like it’. That’s the type of player he is. He goes for the ball, he can score, hit free throws, dunk on somebody. He works hard. He’s also got me here that’s here to tell him how good of a player he is.”

Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery has been saying all along that Freeman brings a unique skillset to the Hawkeyes.

“I’ve been saying from the beginning that the thing that makes him unique is that he has a bag. A lot of times you don’t expect that from your 6’10” center. I’ve been encouraging him all year to be that guy. Attack in the open floor, spin, shot-fake, rip and drive. I think the next phase in his game is that he’ll be shooting pull-up jumpers out of that.

“His ability to affect the game at both ends, that’s how we won. He was blocking shots, he’s rebounding the ball, starting our break, giving others an opportunity to make plays and he did it today staying out of foul trouble, so he’s learning,” McCaffery said.

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Owen Freeman collects seventh Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor

Owen Freeman is at it again, winning his seventh Big Ten Freshman of the Week award.

Owen Freeman has enjoyed a marvelous freshman campaign for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

It continued last week with strong performances in Iowa’s 69-67 loss versus Maryland and in the Hawkeyes’ 88-78 win at Michigan.

Freeman scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds with an assist and a block on 6-of-11 shooting versus the Terps. Then, on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich., Freeman scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds, three blocks and one assist.

In the two games combined, Freeman averaged 14.5 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 87.5% from the free throw line.

As a result of his terrific play, the 6-foot-10 forward from Moline, Ill., collected his seventh Big Ten Freshman of the Week award this season.

Freeman also captured the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on Nov. 13, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, Dec. 18, Jan. 8 and Jan. 15.

Freeman’s seventh Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor is now tied for the second-most in a single season in league history. It’s the most since Nebraska‘s Bryce McGowens tallied seven during the 2021-22 season.

Through the first 20 games of his career, Freeman is averaging 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 64.3% from the floor and 67.8% from the free throw line.

His numbers for points (224), rebounds (123), blocks (34) and double-doubles (3) rank atop the Big Ten among freshmen. Freeman’s 20 steals are tied for first in the Big Ten and his 64.3% field goal shooting ranks second. The Illinois native’s 34 blocks also rank as the third-most nationally among freshmen.

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Owen Freeman wins sixth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award

Owen Freeman was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the sixth time this season.

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For the sixth time this season, Freeman has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. After winning it for the fifth time last week, the Moline, Ill., native stepped his performance up to another level for the Hawkeyes.

He earned his third double-double of the season this week while setting a new career-high 22 points in the Hawkeyes’ 94-76 win over Nebraska. The three double-doubles are the most by a Hawkeye freshman since Luka Garza during the 2017-18 campaign.

Freeman has been the Big Ten’s top freshman this season, leading the conference in points (177), rebounds (95) and blocks (30), while ranking second in steals (18) and field goal percentage (.658). His 30 blocks are tied for the most in the nation by a freshman.

Freeman’s six Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors are the ninth-most in league history. They are the most accolades since Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens was honored seven times during the 2021-22 season, so he’s fast approaching some new history for the conference.

As Freeman has made his presence more known in recent weeks, it’s not a shock that the Hawkeyes are starting to figure it out on the court. They have won five of their last six, that lone defeat coming on the road in a close contest at No. 8 Wisconsin.

The Hawkeyes have a tough week ahead of them, facing 12-4 Minnesota before hosting No. 2 Purdue on Saturday.

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